Brokenhearted Beauty(Divine Creek Ranch 19)(90)

“I also promised dad I’d give you a ride home tonight if you need it. What happened to your finger?” she asked, pointing at the bandage on Presley Ann’s thumb.

“Smashed it this morning, in my apartment door. It’s kind of heavy and I wasn’t paying attention. I cracked the nail a little.”

Leah’s stomach turned, imagining how much that had hurt. She’d never been over to Presley Ann’s apartment, a fact she felt a little guilty about.

She let out a long breath and put her hand on Presley Ann’s to get her to look up at her, keeping her voice low as she spoke. “I need to apologize. I saw the way you seemed to be walking on egg shells when you encountered us earlier and I don’t want it to be like that, working with me. I know I’ve kind of been a bitch on her high horse the last few months, waiting for you to revert to the old Presley Ann.”

Presley Ann’s face fell but she nodded without speaking as Leah continued.

“All of our lives together you’ve been hard on me, Presley Ann. You’ve criticized me. Patronized me. Left me high and dry in social situations you forced on me, talking me into going to the Dancing Pony and the Twisted Bull and then leaving me to find my own way home alone. I resented you for a long time.”

Presley Ann’s eyes grew bloodshot as she nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

“I still don’t understand why you acted the way you did all these years. But your manner, the way you act around people, has undergone a transformation. I respect that you’ve stuck to your guns, regarding receiving help from dad, and living on your own. I’m…impressed. If you’re interested, I was hoping we could somehow…start over again.”

A soft sob escaped from Presley Ann’s throat and she clutched her hands together where they rested on the trolley and then gasped in pain and shook out her injured hand. “Sis, I’d love that. I’ve been searching for a way to somehow make it all up to you. I figured you’d understand work, and if I worked hard enough it might somehow make up for…how awful I was to you.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I’ve been trying to find a way to say how sorry I am but I’m a coward, I guess. This baby is making me realize how selfish I’ve always been, and how entitled I felt. It’s not about me anymore. This little one needs me to step up and I…I can honestly say that although I’ve never worked harder, I’ve also never been as happy as I am, even though I’m miserable. Does that make any sense at all?” She sniffled and then laughed as she wiped tears from under her eyes.

Leah laughed with her and shook her head. “No. Not a bit but I’ll take your word for it. Maybe I could join you and Dad for supper on Saturday night?”

Presley Ann nodded enthusiastically. “And you could bring James and Vincent, too.”

“Absolutely. I have some good news to share with you.” Leah laid her hand flat on the trolley and the diamond in her engagement ring sparkled.

Presley Ann gasped and lifted her hand to look closely at it, her smile growing. “I knew it! They are so in love with you. I just knew they had to propose.” She looked up at Leah and genuine happiness shone in her eyes. “They’ll take good care of you and make you happy, sis.”

Heat filled Leah’s cheeks. “We’ll take good care of each other. They deserve it.”

“You all do.” She tipped Leah’s hand up to look closely at the diamond. “This is at least a carat, maybe a little more, and very, very good quality. They must’ve gotten it from Clay Cook.”

Leah smiled and looked down at it. “It was Patterson who bought it, before he died.”

Presley Ann’s eyes met hers over her hand and her lips compressed and trembled a little. “You’ll see him again someday, you know that, right?”

Leah nodded. “I do. But I miss him so much right now.” Presley Ann’s faith was refreshing, especially coming from her, and it eased the sting of the reminder that he was gone.

“I want to know that kind of love someday,” her sister said in a husky voice.

“I hope you do, sis. Do you think there’s any chance your baby’s father might one day be a part of your life?”

The slight shake of her head and the way her lips pressed together in a flat line spoke of resignation. “I doubt it. Don’t get me wrong, though. He’d be more than welcome in my baby’s life and maybe even in mine. I regret my decision the night we met, to not share names. What felt like a sexy adventure at the time now just seems irresponsible. It’s a choice I’ll always regret.”